A viral Miss Universe clip has sparked a major political controversy after viewers claimed Miss Israel Melanie Shiraz gave Miss Palestine Nadeem Ayoub a hostile look during a pageant event in Thailand. The video, widely reposted and amplified by celebrities including Bella Hadid, triggered a surge of online hate, with Shiraz reporting death threats, rape threats and antisemitic comments. She says the footage was cropped or filmed at a misleading angle, and other camera angles show the contestants were not standing side-by-side. The incident comes during the first-ever Miss Palestine participation in Miss Universe, adding to the global attention. Organisers face criticism for allegedly placing the contestants near each other, as the moment turns a beauty pageant into a geopolitical flashpoint.